Baggage Claim

Coffee, tea or he? That's the question facing flight attendant Paula Patton, who's soon to be on the far side of 30 and about to be the last unmarried woman in her family. She concocts a zany scheme to track all of her ex-boyfriends through frequent-flier miles and see if they've matured. Writer-director David E. Talbert's adaptation of his own novel is pretty lame, but it's anchored by Patton's great, classic screwball comedy performance. Rated PG-13. 96 minutes. - G. Allen Johnson

Battle of the Year 3D

This breakdancing drama follows all of the sports movie cliches, but it has a sublime ridiculousness that makes it enjoyable anyway. Josh Holloway is the drunken coach on his last chance, pulling together a rag-tag group of dancers for the big international break-off. The earnest positivity does a lot to make up for the simplicity of the script. Rated PG-13. 109 minutes.

Blue Jasmine

Set in San Francisco and New York, this story of a woman who goes from fabulous wealth to destitution provides Cate Blanchett with her best role and represents another jewel in the crown of Woody Allen, who continues to experience a renaissance in his 70s. Rated PG-13. 98 minutes. - M. LaSalle

C.O.G.

The story, concerning a pretentious Yale student who immerses himself in the working-class world of Oregon, uses a familiar fish-out-of-water formula, but there's nothing else formulaic about this assured, well-acted dramedy, which keeps you guessing where the student (Jonathan Groff) is going as he drifts from one odd situation to the next. Rated R. 88 minutes. - D. Lewis

Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs 2

Flint Lockwood returns, this time joining a Silicon Valley tech company (in San Franjose!), before returning to the scene of the first film - where his giant food has evolved into living creatures. "Cloudy 2" is an unfocused romp that goes in too many directions. But the strong writing continues wherever it travels. Rated PG. 95 minutes. - P. Hartlaub

Don Jon

Joseph Gordon-Levitt's feature debut as a writer-director is a comedy about a young ladies' man who is addicted to porn - he prefers porn to actual women. It's a well-observed, funny film about a hot topic, and with a serious intention. Co-starring a very seductive Scarlett Johansson. Rated R. 90 minutes. - M. LaSalle

Elysium

Life on Earth in 2154 is a little like 2013, only a lot worse, with Matt Damon as an average guy trying to make it to Elysium - an Earth colony for rich and powerful people - so he can get medical treatment. Jodie Foster plays the icy Elysium defense secretary. The film provides an intelligently imagined future world - from Neill Blomkamp, the director of "District 9. Rated R. 109 minutes. - M. LaSalle

Enough Said

James Gandolfini's next-to-last film casts him as the romantic lead opposite Julia Louis-Dreyfus in a story about two 50-somethings slowly easing their way into a romance. The movie is literate, though formulaic, but the biggest distraction, alas, is Gandolfini, who doesn't look well, appears enormous next to the tiny Louis-Dreyfus, and seems uncomfortable and incongruous in the romantic scenes. Rated PG-13. 90 minutes. - M. LaSalle

Good Ol' Freda

This documentary about Freda Kelly is not only a good look into the Beatles' rise to stardom, but a lovely set of reminiscences by the fan-club secretary who began her 11-year career with the group when she was a fresh-faced 17-year-old. She has retained her girl-next-door demeanor. Rated PG. 86 minutes. - L. Hertz

Haute Cuisine

Foodies will smack their lips over many delectable shots of victuals prepared by the film's engaging protagon-ist (nicely played by Catherine Frot), a provincial woman chosen to cook for the president of France. Based on a true story, but it feels insubstantial. The direction lacks flair, and while there's conflict, it's perfunctory. Rated PG-13. 95 minutes. In French with English subtitles. - W. Addiego

In a World...

Lake Bell writes, stars in and directs this story of a young woman who wants to break into the voice-over business, in commercials and movie trailers, and the result is an engaging and funny debut feature that shows a filmmaker with freedom and good instincts. Rated R. 93 minutes. - M. LaSalle

Inequality for All

Former Labor Secretary Robert Reich is very good company in this documentary about Reich's life, his economic ideas and the growing gap between rich and poor in America. One of the best things about Reich - a source of the film's success - is that he's not a pessimist. Rated PG. 86 minutes. - M. LaSalle

Insidious: Chapter 2

James Wan makes another scary movie that relies on practical effects, smart direction and an unapologetic first-date-friendly PG-13 sensibility. But even as it succeeds in the moment, it's hard to get around the fact that this sequel is entirely unnecessary. We'd rather see Wan and his team put out something new. Rated PG-13. 105 minutes. - P. Hartlaub

Instructions Not Included

This Mexican comedy-drama is about a man who raises a daughter left on his doorstep as an infant, only to have the birth mother suddenly come back into the picture. Not reviewed. Rated PG-13. 115 minutes. In Spanish and English with English subtitles.

Inuk

Drama from Greenland about a 16-year-old boy who travels north to undertake a journey with a famous polar bear hunter. Not reviewed. Not rated. 92 minutes. In English and Greenlandic with English subtitles.

Supposedly based on the life of a long-serving African American White House butler, Lee Daniels' film really is a fictional piece that uses the butler (Forest Whitaker) as a witness to historical civil rights events. The script is clumsy and obvious, and the casting of the presidents is so ridiculous (Alan Rickman as Reagan?) as to be laughable. Rated PG-13. 132 minutes. - M. LaSalle

Metallica Through the Never

As a purely kinetic experience, this movie is hard to beat. It plunks the audience squarely onstage for a jet-fueled concert by heavy-metal kings Metallica, and it's shown in Imax 3-D to boot, which means we're really onstage. Unfortunately, the movie also includes knuckleheaded fantasy sequences starring Dane DeHaan. Rated R. 92 minutes. - W. Addiego

Morning

This raw drama about two parents consumed with grief from the loss of their young son doesn't explore a lot of uncharted territory, but it's the best work of Jeanne Tripplehorn's career and doesn't resort to cheap sentiment. The film may seem bleak, but ultimately it's about healing. Rated R. 95 minutes. - D. Lewis

Museum Hours

Writer-director Jem Cohen creates a moody piece about the life of a museum guard who befriends a Canadian woman and becomes her spiritual as well as physical guide in Vienna. It's part travelogue, part narrative and part art-history class, and the class is the best thing about the movie. Not rated. 107 minutes. - L. Hertz

On the Job

This is a sturdy crime drama from the Philippines, featuring exceptional performances and an irresistible premise: Top politicians are ordering hits on each other, using teams of prison inmates who earn time off their sentences by performing these assassinations. The movie follows the cops and the criminals and is a good ride. Not rated. 121 minutes. In English and Tagalog with English subtitles.

- M. LaSalle

Out in the Dark

This suspenseful love story concerning a handsome Palestinian student and an Israeli lawyer is an entertaining, taut movie that ably juggles its romantic and thriller elements. There have been other gay romances in this arena, but none as assured as this one. Not rated. 96 minutes. In Hebrew and Arabic with English subtitles. - D. Lewis

Planes

After a trying first act, this DisneyToons release finds a nice cruising altitude, embarking on a world tour that yields some pleasant surprises. Dusty Crophopper is a cropduster that wants to be a racing plane. The main story arc is predictable, with several themes reaching inevitable conclusions. But the smaller details remain fresh. "Cars" and "Cars 2" fans be warned: There are almost no references to those films. Rated PG. 92 minutes. - P. Hartlaub

Populaire

This affectionate French salute to Hollywood's eye-popping, Technicolor romantic comedies of the 1950s is about a boss who trains his secretary to compete in speed-typing competitions. The film is all glossy colors, lightweight to the core, steering a dizzy plot through familiar turns toward a foregone conclusion. The joy is in the details - from the animated credits to the perky pop score to the pre-"Mad Men" hair, clothes and general sensibility. Good lead performances from Romain Duris and Deborah Francois. Rated R. 101 minutes. In French with English subtitles. - W. Addiego

Prisoners

Hugh Jackman and Jake Gyllenhaal lead an excellent ensemble in this terrifying drama, which shows a middle-class community torn apart when two children go missing. It's difficult to remember a recent movie that soared so high, before plummeting with a series of bad story choices. But the end result is still a well-crafted piece of cinema. Rated R. 153 minutes. - P. Hartlaub

Riddick

Vin Diesel battles bounty hunters on a wasteland planet in this third Riddick movie. Economic realities force director David Twohy and Diesel back to the lean predatory feel of the original "Pitch Black," over the space opera bloat of "The Chronicles of Riddick." The result isn't a great film, but it's true to the original brutal vision. Rated R. 119 minutes.

- P. Hartlaub

Rush

This racing drama about the 1976 Formula One rivalry between James Hunt and Niki Lauda brings as much raw horsepower as anything else in the genre. But its success comes from a careful balance by director Ron Howard and especially screenwriter Peter Morgan. The ego trips and sexuality and driving are all filmed with equal intensity, to the point where the emotions and flesh and crunched metal seem to blend together Rated R. 123 minutes.

- P. Hartlaub

Salinger

Director Shane Salerno follows nearly a decade of research and numerous interviews to some surprising conclusions about J.D. Salinger, the author and the man. If you don't enjoy re-enactments and dramatic music, "Salinger" probably isn't for you. But the movie does offer interesting insights into one of the most enigmatic literary figures of the 20th century. Rated PG-13. 129 minutes.

- M. Ordona

The Spectacular Now

Directed by James Ponsoldt, this is a superb story about a charming but troubled teenager (Miles Teller) at a point where his life can go one way or the other. Shailene Woodley is lovely as his shy girlfriend. The movie does not go in the usual directions. It's an original, heartfelt piece, well-directed and acted. Rated R. 95 minutes.

- M. LaSalle

Thanks for Sharing

This comedy-drama is a well-meaning, sporadically entertaining and ultimately formulaic look at the struggles of a group of recovering sex addicts. The characters are mostly likable, and, despite some comic sallies, the movie takes a compassionate stance toward them. But it feels too much like a glossy, overly neat depiction of what should be an explosive topic. Leading the cast are Mark Ruffalo, Tim Robbins and Gwyneth Paltrow. Rated R. 112 minutes.

- W. Addiego

Turbo

Theo the snail is the Ricky Bobby of garden pests, and this animated comedy has the speedy gastropod teaming with some humans to enter the Indy 500. But despite the originality of the protagonist, the filmmakers borrow too heavily from other movies; the similarities to "Ratatouille" and "Cars" are almost distracting. This film has too many characters, too much action and very little focus. Rated PG. 96 minutes. - P. Hartlaub

20 Feet From Stardom

This film festival favorite about background singers is a genuine crowd pleaser, meant to right a few wrongs in the music industry and offer a window into the lives of some hard-charging entertainers. Depth is not a strength of the film, and some hard questions are avoided. Most viewers will still leave humming a song. Rated PG-13. 90 minutes. - P. Hartlaub

Wadjda

A spirited 10-year-old Saudi Arabian girl wants to buy a bicycle, although by custom, girls in her country simply don't ride bikes. Haifaa Al Mansour's film also charts some of the obstacles faced by adult women in the conservative Saudi culture. A simple story told with economy, this is a notable example of old-school, humanistic filmmaking, but it's also genuinely groundbreaking: the first feature shot entirely in Saudi Arabia, and the first film directed by a Saudi woman. Rated PG. 98 minutes. In Arabic with English subtitles. - W. Addiego

We're the Millers

A tasteless, mildly amusing, not-bad comedy - clumsy but with funny moments - starring Jason Sudeikis as a drug dealer who hires a stripper (Jennifer Aniston) and a pair of teenagers to pose as his family while he makes a huge drug run to Mexico. Rated R. 109 minutes. - M. LaSalle

The World's End

This is an original and imaginative film about a strange, needy, overbearing guy - once a big man in high school - who cajoles his former friends into joining him on a drinking binge in their old home town, with results that no one could have bargained for. Good performances, smart dialogue and a script that bends genres are the features of this enjoyable film, written by and starring Simon Pegg. Rated R. 109 minutes. - M. LaSalle